Former Israeli Soldier to Update Oireachtas Committee on Israel’s Military Action in the Occupied Territories

The perspective of a former Israeli soldier on Israel’s military operations in Palestine will be outlined at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs tomorrow, (4th) at 9:30 am in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House.

Mr Yehuda Shaul, who was in the Israeli Defence Forces for three years serving in most Palestinian cities in the West Bank is the Director of the an organisation called Breaking the Silence.

Breaking the Silence is an organisation of veteran Israeli soldiers that collects testimonies of combatants who served in the Occupied Territories, including soldiers who served in the Israel military operation, ‘Cast Lead’ in Gaza.

Mr Shaul will highlight what he has recorded as the common themes revealed from interviews with soldiers regarding their military orders, rules of engagement, conduct of soldiers, military ethics and investigations.

Committee Chairman, Bernard Durkan said;
“Palestinians in the occupied territories are experiencing a humanitarian crisis, with 79.4% of the population now living below the poverty line. In late 2008, the Israeli Defence Forces launched a devastating three week offensive in Gaza, resulting in a humanitarian crisis which continues to this day.

It will be useful to get the perspective of somebody who both served on the ground with the Israeli army and who has spoken at length to many other soldiers who have done the same. We would like to learn about the attitude and ethos which pervades the Israeli Defence Force, especially in light of the findings of the Goldstone Report on the conduct of Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.”

ENDS
Daniel English
Oireachtas Communications Unit
01 618 4484
   087 6949926

The full membership of the Committee is:
Bernard Durkan, TD, Chairman (Fine Gael)
Timmy Dooley, TD Vice Chairman (Fianna Fáil)
Thomas Byrne, TD (Fianna Fáil)
Joe Costello, TD, (Labour)
Lucinda Creighton, TD (Fine Gael)
Pat Breen TD, (Fine Gael)
Michael Mulcahy TD, (Fianna Fáil)
Mary O'Rourke, TD (Fianna Fáil)
Beverley Flynn, TD (Fianna Fáil)
Sean Power, TD (Fianna Fáil)
Billy Timmins, TD (Fine Gael)
Joanna Tuffy, TD, (Labour)
Noel Treacy TD, (Fianna Fáil)
Senator Deirdre deBurca (Green Party)
Senator Pearse Doherty (Sinn Féin)
Senator Rónán Mullen, (Independent)
Senator Phil Prendergast, (Labour)
Senator Paschal Donohoe, (Fine Gael)
Senator Terry Leyden, (Fianna Fáil)
Senator John Hanifan, (Fianna Fáil)
Senator Maurice Cummins, (Fine Gael)
Senator Feargal Quinn, (Independent)